Ottawa, July 3
Canada has taken a major step toward building a new oil pipeline to its Pacific coast after unveiling a C$150 billion investment plan aimed at addressing concerns raised by British Columbia and First Nations communities.
The proposed pipeline is expected to transport up to one million barrels of crude oil per day from Alberta to a new export terminal on the west coast, giving Canadian energy producers greater access to Asian markets and reducing reliance on exports to the United States.
The investment package includes funding for environmental protection, Indigenous economic partnerships, port infrastructure, methane-emission reduction projects, and support for clean energy initiatives. The government also said existing environmental safeguards, including restrictions on oil tankers along British Columbia's northern coast, would remain in place
. Prime Minister Mark Carney said the project is intended to strengthen Canada's energy security, create jobs, attract investment, and expand the country's export options while maintaining environmental commitments.
The proposed pipeline would largely follow an existing energy corridor, helping reduce the environmental impact of new construction. Officials said Indigenous communities will have opportunities to participate in ownership and benefit from long-term economic returns.
The project will still require regulatory approvals and continued consultations before construction begins, with work expected to start in 2027 if all approvals are secured.
While industry groups welcomed the announcement as a boost for Canada's energy sector, environmental organizations reiterated concerns that expanding oil infrastructure could conflict with the country's climate goals.
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